Two weeks ago, I spent the weekend in Edinburgh with the boy. The weekend was over way too quickly.

I arrived on Friday evening, and N. and I went out for dinner and to see what might have quite possibly been the worst movie ever. I hate horror movies and I am not sure what possessed me to agree to see it. We were both expecting something entirely different. But you know, in a way, it didn’t really matter because I was with N. and as long as we get to spend time together, all is well. I am not going to let him pick a movie based on “it starts at a convenient time” again, though. Heh.

I remember thinking on Saturday morning that I’d only been there half a day, and how I still had two whole days with N. before I would leave again. And how much I’d enjoyed that half day already, like time would be stretching out forever. But, just like the previous weekend we spent together, time just flew and just like that it was Monday morning and we were saying goodbye at the airport. Can I just say that I really prefer airport hellos to airport goodbyes?

We ate breakfast at a small café on Saturday morning. I had a full breakfast, sausage, bacon, eggs, beans, you name it. I ate pretty much all of it too. I know! Afterward we caught a bus into the city. Luckily the weather changed from hail to rain to sunshine in the time we spent on the bus. We ended up spending Saturday afternoon exploring Edinburgh. N. showed me around his city and we spent a few hours walking around, enjoying the sunshine. Within a few hours, I managed to take over 400 pictures. N. is not really into taking pictures or playing tourist which makes me think that he must have the patience of a saint.

A friend of mine moved to Edinburgh about a year and a half ago. We’d been talking about my visiting her in the spring or summer of this year. And then coincidence would have it and I met N. My friend wasn’t in town that weekend, so we didn’t manage to meet up, and while I was a bit sad, I was also happy to spend the entire weekend with N. I do hope we will get to hang out when I’m in town again, though, at some point.

So Edinburgh? I absolutely loved it. It’s such an old town that has many historic places. The historic part of town is absolutely gorgeous. The accent certainly takes some getting used to, although I think I managed okay. N. is originally from Northern England so this was the first time I was exposed to the Scottish accent (outside of movies).

There are so many streets filled with old, beautiful buildings, charming storefronts, and bars with a great atmosphere. I find it hard to describe but and I really really loved it. Maybe it is best to let the pictures I took speak for themselves. I had never heard a single bad thing about Edinburgh, everyone who had been there and told me about it had loved it, and now I definitely know why.

We didn’t go into any of the museums, the castle or anything like that, but that was okay. I think what I most enjoy about visiting a city is just walking around, enjoying the architecture, and getting a feel for the atmosphere of the city. In a way, I am almost glad that we have the sightseeing out of the way now, because it means we can do more of the “normal stuff” the next time I am there.

Sunday, we went back into the city for a few hours. We ended up trying a fish pedicure (more about that in another post) at the mall, and I just had to go into Primark, because I’d heard and read about it here and there and we don’t have the store here. I ended up buying a few pairs of flip flops (most of which didn’t fit into my luggage so I left them at N.’s place, haha). I don’t know why, but when I visit a place, I also like to spend some time (window) shopping there. Another thing I love to do is browse grocery stores in other countries and exploring all the foreign food. Heck, I even enjoy browsing grocery stores in Munich now that I live in a small town that has a whopping two grocery stores to choose from.

Sunday evening, we went to a bar on the beach in Portobello that had live music. I had a hot chocolate with Bailey’s to warm up as Edinburgh was quite chilly that weekend, and a glass of wine. Just sitting there with N., next to the fire (which made me get really hot and red-faced after a while, no really, that was not the wine!), enjoying his company and the music, sipping my wine, and a view of the sea just outside the window, was probably what I enjoyed most about the weekend. I loved the atmosphere of the bar, and just spending a couple of hours relaxing with N., not rushing around, just listening to the music was such a welcome change after playing tourist on Saturday. After a while, a friend of N.’s joined us, and after the live music ended at 6pm, we moved on to another bar where we ended up having a couple more drinks, just chatting and relaxing. Even though I think we had both originally wanted to spend our last evening just the two of us, I really had a good time. It was nice to meet a friend of N.’s as well. I think part of that is that it felt so normal, like a thing I could picture myself doing every weekend if I lived there. In a relationship that is far from normal with us not even living in the same country, this was just what I needed, and I hope that we will do more things like that next time I’m there.

Monday morning came far too soon and before I knew it, we were at the airport saying goodbye. It’s so hard saying goodbye knowing you won’t see each other for a few weeks, although I have to admit that it was easier this time than the previous weekends when N. was the one leaving. Having to go through security, finding something to eat and walking to the gate was a welcome distraction that made getting used to being by myself again a little easier.

It’s been nearly two weeks already that I have been back, and it took me so long to post about Edinburgh because I had the hardest time deciding on which pictures to post. I have uploaded a few more pictures in an album which you can see here.

I can’t wait to see N. again and spend another weekend with him in Edinburgh. I have already booked my flight and I am going there again for the first weekend in June, which is only three weeks away. It can’t get here soon enough.